Vixens Champion Appointed Assistant Coach

The Melbourne Vixens have landed another off-season coup, this time off the court, with the signing of new Assistant Coach, netball champion Sharelle McMahon.

McMahon, who captained the Vixens from its inaugural season in 2008 until 2011, has been in a specialist coaching role with the Vixens for the last five years, and replaces Di Honey who has taken on the role as head coach of the Victorian Fury – the Vixens’ feeder team.

McMahon said she is looking forward to a broader role within the Vixens environment.

“Since I retired, I’ve held a specialist coaching role with the Vixens working closely with the goalers in particular, and it’s something that I’ve really enjoyed; working with those athletes as they try to get better at their craft,” said McMahon.

“There are a few new faces in the Vixens team next year, particularly in the goaling end with Ine-Mari (Venter) and Caitlin (Thwaites) coming in and I will work closely with them, but I’ll also be working more broadly with the team, and that part of the role is something I’m really looking forward to.

“I’ve actually played with a few of the girls in the group (Tegan Philip, Renae Ingles and Caitlin Thwaites) and I love that; I think that that kind of connection is really nice to have.

“I think that the Vixens is a club that embraces their history really well and I think that’s a significant part of the way the Vixens go about things, and part of why I love being involved in the club.”

Head coach, Simone McKinnis welcomed Sharelle to the coaching panel.

“Sharelle’s been involved in the Vixens environment since its inception and in recent years has worked with us in a specialist coaching role, so we’re thrilled for her to take the step up and join us from 2019,” said McKinnis.

“To have someone who knows the ‘Vixens way’ the way Sharelle does is incredibly valuable to the team and we’re looking forward to having her around the club a lot more to help us get to where we know we should be in Suncorp Super Netball.”

The Vixens will begin their 2019 pre-season training in December, with Vixens memberships on sale from 30 November.